Sernaker and Menzies have tried many different types of cases involving catastrophic injury or death due to the negligence in automobile design or manufacture. However, we are particularly experienced in the following types of automotive design cases: Enhanced Disparity of SUV Vehicle Dimensions: The current trend of increased SUV size by automotive manufacturers has greatly enhanced the threat of serious injury resulting from even low velocity impacts with small or moderately sized vehicles. The bumper design, overall vehicle height, increased vehicle weight and a number of other design characteristics of these larger vehicles have greatly enhanced their potential for causing serious injury due to collisions with smaller vehicles. Rollovers: Thousands of cars, trucks and vans on the road rollover when subjected to forseeable forces that should not result in a rollover. Rollover accidents are well known to cause an extremely high incidence of catostrophic injury and death. Many of today's sports utility vehicles, minivans and other high profile vehicles with a low center of gravity are prone to rollovers while engaged in relatively routine handling maneuvers. Defective Restraint Systems: Many standard equipped seat belt systems in automobiles are dangerously defective and often allow or even cause easily preventable injury. Among some of the major causes of injury and/or death in this category are: Lap belt only systems (no shoulder harness). Automatic shoulder harness with no lap belt. Door-mounted three point systems. Seat belt buckles that unlatch during collisions. Lack of air bags. Air bags that open with excessive force. Defective Door Latches & Windows: Poorly designed doors and windows in many automobiles can cause occupant ejection during an accident if they open or break. Automobiles must be designed so that occupants remain inside the vehicle during even the most serious accidents. Seat Malfunction: The seats in many vehicles are too weak and can break when subjected to relatively minor foces. When a seat breaks the occupant becomes essentially unrestrained and is likely to cause serious injury or death. Offset Head-On Collision: This is the most common form of head-on collision, occurring when part of the front of the vehicle strikes another vehicle or object. Failure of automobile manufacturers to provide sufficient front-end structural support may cause a level of injury or death to occupants which they may not have sustained in a vehicle with the proper structural support. Failure to Warn: This includes either warnings affixed to the vehicle or contained in the owner's manual that deal with unique or specific handling capabilities as well as restrictions on modifications that can safely be made to the vehicle without rendering it unstable or safe. Conversion Van Defects: Many full-size commercial vans are modified to look like small mobile homes. These vans can pose significant risk to rear passengers, and modifications by the converter can often make these "homes" on wheels extremely dangerous. Similarly, excessive modification to cargo vans converted for family use can also affect the overall stability and structural integrity of the van, putting undo pressure on the locking mechanism of the rear doors. This undo pressure can cause the doors to spring open during a serious accident, rollover or collision. Additionally, passengers may also be ejected from oversized windows installed in the vans during a serious accident. The installation of raised roofs may also pose a serious risk to passengers due to insufficient structural support during rollovers. Gas Tank Rupture/Insufficient Fuel System Integrity: Vehicles designed and built with gasoline tanks positioned improperly/not shielded from impact can rupture and explode in flames during even non-violent collisions.